Typewriting machine



TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed June 5, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor:

mmmlm J. A. B. SMITH TYPEWBITING MACHINE Filed June .3, 192.4

April 10, 1928.

In venfo/ A Mar/7% April 10, 1928;

J. A. B. SMITH TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed June 5, 1924 4 Shets-Sheet 5 April 10, 1928. 1,665,285 J. A. B. SMITH TYPEWRITTNG MACHINE Filed June 5, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 by Afro/"n Patented Apr. 10, 1928.

JESSE A. B. SMITH, OF STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO UNDERWOOD ELLIOTT FISHER COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

TYPEWRITING MACHINE.

Application filed June 3, 1924. Serial No. 717,463.

This invention relates to typewriting machines and more articularl to combined t )ewritin and com utin machines rovidcd with paper-holding and paper-feeding means for a plurality of work-sheets that are especially employed for condensed billing work, and for other purposes.

The present invention from certain aspects is in the nature of an improvement on the 10 construction shown in the prior application of Jesse A. B. Smith, Serial No. 680,153, filed December 12, 1923, where provision was made for making typewritten entries upon a statement-sheet, a ledger-sheet and a record-sheet at a single operation. To this end, provision was made for a main or primary ribbon and'a duplicating or auxiliary ribbon, the auxiliary ribbon arranged to lie between the outer statement-sheet and the under ledger-sheet and both to overlie a carboncovered record-sheet against the face of the platen. The statement and ledger sheets were introduced around the platen from the rear to enter the printing zone with the auxiliary ribbon betwen them, and each sheet was adj usted independently to an aligning gage and aligned edgewise to a collating table. The record-sheet preserved in condensed form every transaction or record in consecutive order, and hence recorded mixed accounts in both debit and credit transactions. The statement and ledger sheets were individual account sheets, and only employed from time to time when a new charge was to be added to an account, and hence were usually kept in a. suitable receptacle near the machine. The auxiliary ribbon was wound upon spools at each end of the carriage, and provided with means for shifting said ribbon at will to one of two fixed positions; a work-inserting position, to swing the ribbon from the .face of the platen to enable the ledger-sheet being adjusted to the rear thereof without fouling it, and a printing position, when said ribbon aligned with the primary or outer ribbon to receive the type impacts. The primary ribbon was fed step by step in the usual Underwood manner, and the auxiliary ribbon was provided with an independent longitudinal feed through a lever transmission device arranged adjacent the usual line-spacing lever, so that both levers could be operated at a single operation, or independently, as desired. In this prior construction, when the statement or ledger sheets were inserted to and around the platen and around the stationary carbon-covered record-sheet from the rear and shifted for aligning purposes at the front of the platen, it caused more or less tracking through the sensitive carbon-overlay, resulting in smearing the record-sheet. Furthermore, it was impossible to make a correction on the record-shect without removing it from the machine, because of the carbon-overlay cover ing the whole outer surface of the record sheet,

The present invention employs a statement, a ledger and a condensed record-sheet; the record-sheet is disposed next to the platen and is provided with independent paperholding and paper-guiding fingers at each end of the sheet to prevent displacement thereof. Provision is made for the introduction of the statement and ledger-sheets at the front side of the platen, which is more convenient for the operator than reaching to the rear of the platen and working blindly back of the record-sheet. The typewritten characters are transferred to the outer or statement sheet through the primary ribbon, which is vibrated to cover or uncover the printing zone in the usual manner. The impressions on the ledger-sheet and the recordeheet are transferred through two ribbons, one introduced between the statement and ledger sheets, and the other between the ledger and the record sheets, and hence these three sheets receive typed ribbon-impressions. The two ribbons extend across the length of the platen, and are wound jointly upon a receiving spool at each end of the carriage. The spools are mounted upon a frame adapted to swing about an axis that is eccentric to the platen axis, and hence swing the ribbon-guiding elements of said frame upwardly and away from the face of the platen, thereby providing ample space to insert the three work-sheets to the printing position, without interference from the two ribbons stretched across the front of the carriage.

The outer ribbon passes in a straight plane across the carriage from guide to guide; the,

under ribbon is held against the face of the record-sheet adjacent each edge by passing under paper-fingers that are individually spring-pressed against the record-sheet, and

1 anism which'form the hence, when the ribbon-carrying frame is shifted upwardly, the outer ribbon will shift therewith and still hold its straight-line position between the ribbon-guides at each end of the frame, with the under ribbon held down at each end against the record-sheet by the paper-fingers, and will cause the two ribbons to separate when shifted to the workinserting position, assuming parallel planes, but with a sutlicient gap between them to permit of the insertion of a ledger-sheet between the two ribbons.

In raising the ribbons from the zone to the work-inserting position, the lower ribbon, held down by the paper fingers, tends to unwind at the paying-out spool and cause a slack in the ribbon when the ribbon is again shifted tooperative printing position. To prevent any undue slack appearing in this under ribbon, an extra strong spring washer serves as a brake against each ribbon spool, to prevent the paying-out spool from unwinding when the ribbon fields are raised, thus the under ribbon is permitted to stretch itself to compensate for the extra length required.

In shifting the two ribbons from the sheetinserting position to the printing position if there is any slack in the ribbon fields between the two end ribbon-guides, the ribbon tends to drag against the adjoining worksheet, and at the center of the longitudinal writing line, one or both ribbons might not cover the printing field of the types, and thus produce a defective record.

One feature of the present invention provides for a longitudinal ribbon-feeding movement for the two transfer ribbons after the ribbon-carrying frame has been shifted to its lower or printing position, and by so doing any slack in the ribbon is not only taken up, but owing to the strong spring tension drag against the paying-out spool, said ribbons are drawn taut, and there is little chance of producing defective records, due to the ribbon not covering the printing position. The ribbon-carriage and spools comprising this swinging unit as described, are provided with longitudinal ribbon-feeding devices, ribbon-feed and reversing meehsubject-matter of the application of Alfred G. F. Kurowski, Serial No. 690,705. filed February 5, 1924.

The two transfer ribbons, arranged one between the record and ledger sheets, and the other between the ledger and statement sheets would normally transfer reverse typeimpressions to the back of theadjoining work-sheet. To prevent this offsetting of the ribbon to the back of the ledger-sheet, a thin shield of paper, or other suitable material, is removably secured by clips to the lower rear face of the collating table. This shield is equal to the width of the ledgersheet, and of sufiicient depth to extend downprinting wardly around the front face of the platen over and just below the face of the undermost transfer ribbon. The offsetting effect from this ribbon will be taken by the rear face of this shield, which can be renewed at intervals.

The outer transfer ribbon that would transfer to the back of the statement-sheet is covered by an uninked ribbon-like fabric stretched across the carriage over the face of the outer inked ribbon, and provided with books at each end to engage within suitable holes on the swinging, ribbon support frame to stretch tightly over the outer face of the outer transfer ribbon "and separate it from the face of the statement-sheet.

An important feature of this invention provides that a condensed record-sheet be inserted at the rear of the platen and fed around the platen and under certain of the paper-fingers, which have previously been raised by a backward swing of the collating table. To promote uniform introduction of this sheet relative to the paper-scale, guides, adjustably secured to the paper-table, form a chute for the sheet. The leading edge having been adjusted to the first line of printing on the sheet, the paper-holding fingers are moved into operative position to press the front face of the sheet firmly against the platen by restoring the collating table to its normal position.

The record-sheet is usually provided with vertically ruled columns for specific entries thereon, and the tabulating stops are set in accordance with this ruling. The paperfeeding or pressure rolls on the under side of the platen are cast oil to provide a clear passage around the platen between the record-sheet and the usual paper-deflector; the record-sheet will be held stationary against accidental displacement by the sideedge guides at the paper-table, and the spring-pressed paper-fingers at each edge of the work-sheet, holding said sheet against the printing field on the platen. The ribboncarrying frame may now be raised to its upper stop position to cause both transfer ribbons to swing upwardly and away from the face of the platen, and during this movement the ribbons become separated and assume parallel planes with an open gap between the two ribbon fields.

The statement-sheet is next adjusted to the platen from the front, by forcing the lower edge of the sheet between the usual springpressed wire paper-guide and the face of the record-sheet, and then forced around the platen to the rear, this movement being assisted by the curvature of the paper-defiector. The top edge of the sheet may be adjusted to'the printing position for the first line,-and the sheet as a whole aligned to the left-hand side wall of the collating table for an approximate adjustment. The

ledger-sheet may next be adjusted at the front of the platen by passing the lower edge of the sheet through the gap between the two ribbon fields, where it will first come into contact with the paper-shield covering the under ribbon and serve as a deflector to guide the sheet until the lower edge strikes the previously adjusted statementsheet, which in turn acts as a further deflector'to guide the ledger-sheet to the rear of the platen within the space between the statement-sheet on the outside and the record-sheet on the inside towards the platen. The statement and ledger sheets may now be aligned on the collating table, and the feed rolls restored, to bind all three sheets to the platen face. The ribbon-carrying frame is then swung downwardly to the printing position, and the ribbon-feeding lever depressed to draw a predetermined amount of ribbon from the paying-out spool, incidentally taking up any slack and straightening the ribbon, and the loading or top ends of the statement and ledger-sheets forced rearwardly to the collating table to be held in this position by swinging the usual Underwood center-roll, that is hinged to the front rail of the carriage, to bear against the face of the outer sheet.

It is the usual practice to have the recordsheet cover the entire length of the platen and co-operate with the ledger-sheet, which is considerably narrower, so that specific entries may be made on the record-sheet at the right-hand end of the record-sheet. The customers name and address are usually printed beforehand upon the statement and ledger-sheets, and as the record-sheet is a mixed record of consecutive transactions, after the entries on the statement-sheet and ledger-sheet (which usually is a single line entry), are completed, the customers name or account number may be entered upon the record-sheet to the right hand of the ledgersheet position.

In this manner provision is made to make ribbon-inked records upon three dissimilar work-sheets at a single operation and operate without smearing from contact with the inked fabrics; to make entries one ata time upon an original statement-sheet and an individual ledger-sheet, the statement-sheet going to the customer at the end of the month, and the ledger-sheet continuing into the next month until filled, when it may be permanently bound within a loose-leaf binder.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a front view of the platen and ribbon-feeding devices, with some parts of the machine broken away.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1. showing the relative positions of the three work-sheets in relation to each other and also in relation to the collating table and the platen. I

Figure 3 is an end elevation of the platen and carriage, with certain parts of the frame shown in section.

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view, showing the relation of the collating table to the platen.

Figure 5 is a view of a modified form of a shield to cover the outer face of one of the transfer ribbons.

Figures 6, 7, 8 and 9 are diagrammatic views illustrating in detail the separate op- (nations and manner of inserting the three work-sheets around the platen and between the two longitudinal ribbons.

Y The Underwood combined typewrit-ing and computing machine, in which the present improvements are incorporated, comprises computing mechanism with denominational selectors 10, denominational jacks 11 co-operating therewith, zone selectors 12, and tabulating stops 13 co-operating with decimal stops 14 for locating the carriage quickly in a predetermined column of the computing zones. -For a more'complete disclosure of:

this combined computing and tabulating mechanisn'i, reference may be had to the patout to Gumprecht, No. 1,237,895, dated August 21, 1917.

Types 15 are swung upwardly and rearwardly by the manipulation of keys (not shown) between the jaws of the typeguide 16 to print through the usual ribbon 17 upon the work-sheet at the front of a cylindrical platen 18 mounted on an axle 19 journaled in the ends 20 of a carriage or platen-frame shiftable between two stop positions, indieating the printing positions for the upper and lower case characters of the type-bar.

A line-spacing lever (not shown) operates a ratchet-wheel to provide a line-spacing movement for the platen in the well-known Underwood manner. Feed-rolls 21, springpressed against the platen, promote feeding of the work-sheet around the platen when rotated for line-spacing or by manual turning of the usual finger-wheels at each end of the platen-axle, but said feed-rolls may be cast off or shifted to an inoperative position in any well-known manner, as by a release lever employed on the Underwood machine.

Two auxiliary or transfer ribbons 22 and 23 that print upon the record-sheet and ledger-sheet respectively, are carried by an auxiliary ribbon frame, comprising end plates 24 secured to a rock-shaft 25 journaled in the earriageends 20. Each end plate 9.4 supports its corresponding ribbonspool 26 or 27 for rotation about a. horizontal shaft 28 that projects inwardly from the end plates. and each spool is retained upon its shaft by a spring-washer 29 and a thumbnut 30 threaded upon the reduced free end of the shaft, to force said washer firmly against the face of the spool and serve as a braking element to place the ribbon under tension when drawn from the paying-out spool.

Each end plate 24 has a forward extension 31, bent at a right angle, to provide a flat vertical face slightly to the front of the platen and provided with a 45-degree slot 32 to guide the ribbon from a vertical plane at the spool to a horizontal plane across the platen.

The ribbon is fed longitudinally from one spool to the other, and the direction of the ribbon-feed reversed at will, as disclosed in the above-mentioned application of Kurowski, by a lever 33, see Figure 3. pivoted to the shaft 25 and provided with a springpressed driving pawl 34 adapted to engage with a toothed ratchet-wheel 35 to rotate the ribbon spool 27. The lever 33 is springpressed againstv a stop 36, set in one of the plates 24 and its downward movement is limited by a pin 37 engaging with the end of a slot in the frame plate.

The ribbonscarrying frame comprising the two end plates 24 swings about the axis 25 to raise the ribbons above the printing position, and this movement up and down is determined by a detent cam 38 fixed to the shaft 25 and engaging with a swinging roller 39 pivoted on the carriage end and springpressed into engagement with the detent cam 38. The further downward movement of the lever 33, from theposition shown at Figure 3 to a position determined by the pin 37 striking the end of the slot, provides for a ribbon-feeding movement across the platen, due to the ribbon being wound upon the spool 27, all of which details are disclosed in said a plication of Kurowski.

Paperolding devices are mounted upon a rock-shaft 40 provided with yoke-pieces 41 at each end, whichpass around the front of the ribbon-spools. their ends being journaled in brackets 42 adjustably secured to the carriage ends 20. The outer ends of the yokepieces 41 are provided with spring-pressed detents, yieldably retaining the shaft 40 in operative position and the yoke-pieces serve as handles by which the shaft may be conveniently turned upon its axis. The shaft 40 carries two fingers 43 and 44 springpressed to bear independently against the work-sheet at and above printing position, and provided with contact rolls 44, all arranged substantially as disclosed in the application of Jesse A. B. Smith, Serial No. 680.154, filed December 12. 1923, except that the finger 43 is formed with a lateral arm 45 extending towards the mating finger to act as a guide in entering certain of the worksheets as will be later more fully described.

Two paper-fingers 46 are permanently fixed to the shaft 40, and the shaft further supportsv two carriers 47 having springpressed detents 48 to -yieldably engage with suitable grooves in the shaft. The carriers 47 are provided with angular pieces 49 that extend above the carriage, and support a cross-bar 5O connecting the two pieces 49 together.

Two collating tables 51 and 52 are adjustahly secured to the cross-bar by screws 53 passing through elongated slots in the hack walls of the tables and threaded into the (IOHS-llfll 50. Each collating table is formed with an upstanding outer edge which collectively constitute a chute. the Width thereof being determined by the width of the work-sheet and its position to agree with the angular delivery of the work-sheet after itleaves the control of the paper-holding devices above the printing position.

The two transfer ribbons 22 and 23 are wound upon the r bbon-spools 26 and 27 in juxtaposition and in passing from the paying-out spool both ribbons pass behind the extension 31 and emerge at the front through one of the diagonal slots 32, and then extend substantially across the whole length of the platen. in superposed relation, to pass through the diagonal slot in the opposite extension and thence up to the opposite spool.

The innermost ribbon 22 in passing from the right-hand spool 27 travels under the adjacent paper-finger 46, thence over the paperfinger 44, lengthwise of the platen, over the paper-finger 43 and under the left-hand paper-finger 46.

The intermediate ribbon 23, wound upon the same spool, after emerging from the diagonal slot 32 in one extension 31, passes lengthwise across the platen in a direct line to the diagonal slot 32 in the opposite extension 31.

To prevent the ribbon 22 from making impressions on-the back of the Work-sheet immediately in front, a paper-shield 54 is removably attached to the rear face of both collating tables by spring-clips 55 secured to the rear face of the tables; this shield ex-- tends downwardly and passes over the ribbon 22, as shown at Figures 2 and 4.

To prevent the ribbon 23 from contacting with and marking the back of the outermost work-sheet, a shield 56, such as a section of uninked ribbon fabric, is extended over the entire exposed face of the ribbon 23, and provided at each end. with metallic hooks 57 that may be engaged in holes in cars projecting from the outer side-faces of the ribbon-carrying frame. 7

Instead of employing a strip of paper removably secured to the rear face of the collating tables, as previously described, an uninked fabric shield 54 may be secured to extend between the two paper-fingers 46, as shown at Figure 5, and the edges of the fingers may be notched to prevent the displacement of the shield. This fabric would.

overlie the face of the ribbon 22 at the printing position in a manner similar to the uninked shield 56 that covers the ribbon 23.

A rear paper-guide consists of an extension 59 and side-edge guides adjustably secured to the extension for different widths of work-sheets. A condensed record-sheet A is introduced at the rear of the platen, and the side guides 60 are adjusted to the edges of the sheet, which squares the sheet relative to-the platen. The ribbon-carrying frame and the collating table are both swung rcarwardly to assume the position shown at Figure 6. The record-sheet A may now be turned around the platen by the fingerwheels, the feed-rolls promoting this feeding movement.

The leading edge of the sheet A having been advanced to a predetermined entry position and passed under the rock-shaft 40, below the paper-fingers 43 and 44 and rollers carried by them, the collating table 5152 is swung back to normal position, which brings the paper-fingers into operative position to bear against the face of the work-sheet A and force the sheet to hug the platen at the printing line, as shown in Figure 7, this effect being possible due to the limited relative movement of the paperfingers 43 and 44, each of which may swing on the shaft 40 to contact with the platen being urged thereagainst by individual springs, and as the paper-fingers 46 are rigidly fixed to the shaft 40, it will also be seen that the movement of the two fingers 46 have carried the ribbon 22 adjacent the face of the record-sheet A, but that the intermediate ribbon 23 is still held in its raised position, and thus forming an opening or gap between these two ribbons 22 and 23 at their normal or ineffective positions, the gap extending from one of the paper-fingers 46. to the mating finger. The 'ngers serve as ribbon-guides, which may be concentric with the platen and eccentric to the sweep of the ribbon-carrier, whereby the path of one ribbon will be deflected from the path of the other ribbon, when swung by the carrier to uncover the typing line, and thereby effect a wide separation of the superposed ribbons. It will also be seen in Figures 7 and 8 that the front face of the ribbon 22 is covered by the shield 54, and the front face of the ribbon 23 by the shield 56.

The record-sheet A, as already set forth, commonly covers practically the whole length of the platen but the ledger and statement sheets are usually much narrower and positioned to align near the left-hand edge of the record-sheet, which provides for an exposed right-hand section of the recordsheet that the ledger-sheet does not cover and upon which specific entries may be made.

To guide the ledger-sheet B and the statement-sheet G, the collating table is adjusted for aligning the edges of these two sheets, which usually are of the same width.

The record-sheet A having been adjusted from the rear and held against displacementby the paper-fingers 43 and 44 and their rolls 44, the feed-rolls 21 are cast off, as shown at Figure 8. The statement-sheet C is introduced around the platen from the front by entering its lower edge over the arm 45 and under'a wire paper-guide 61, to be guided around the laten by a paperdefiector 62, and the rent exposed end aligned approximately to collating position. The ledger-sheet B is now adjusted from the front preferably by first inserting the lower left-hand corner under the arm 45 and then dropping the lower edge downward through the gap between the ribbons 22 and 23, as indicated in broken lines at Figure 8. The paper-shield 54 will deflect the sheet from the ribbon 22, and the position of the statement-sheet C serves as a deflector to guide the sheet from the front to the rear and between the record-sheet A and the statementsheet C. The twosheets B and C may now be straightened relatively to the collating edges of the table and to each other, and the feed-rolls restored.

The ribbon-carrying frame is now swung downwardly by the lever 33 to bring the ribbon fields into printing position, one be tween the sheets A and B, and the other between the sheets 13 and C. The downward movement of the frame being checked by its detent 38, continued pressure downwardly on the lever 33 causes the driving pawls 34 of the winding-up spool to draw a section of the ribbon across the printing position, and

should there be any slack in the ribbon caused by the swinging movement of the ribbon-carrying frame, up and down, this slack, which might cause a defective record by not covering the type zone, will be taken up, and both ribbons will be drawn taut in a straight line between the two ribbonguide slots 32 at the ends of the frame.

The leading-top edges of the sheets B and C have a tendency to spring away from the platen, and are pressed to the rear against the platen and towards the collating table by a center-roll 63, pivoted to the front rail-0f the carriage in the well-known Underwood manner, and brought into operative position to bear against the face of the sheet G and the pressure feed rolls restored, all as shown in F igurei), for the completed operation, when the sheet C is ready to receive ribbon inked impressions through the primary ribbon 17, the sheet B through the intermediate or transfer ribbon 23, and the sheet A through the innermost ribbon 22.

Nearly all operations on the statement and ledger sheets consist of a single-line entry, and when the center-roll 63 is swung to one side, the ribbon-carrying frame is swung upwardly, the platen i and sheet A linespaeed, the feed-roll cast off, and the two sheets B and G removed from the front and placed in a suitable receptacle until again withdrawn for a subsequent entry.

Should a two-line entry be required, after the first line is completed, the roll 63 may be swung out, the ribbon frame lifted, and all three worksheets given a line-space movement. The ribbon frame is then restored, the ribbon fed longitudinally, and the roll 63 replaced against the sheet C.

An important factor in raising and lowering of the ribbon-carrying frame resides in the lever control that provides for a ribbonfeeding movement only after the ribboncarrying frame has assumed its operative position at the printing zone, which insures that the two narrow transfer ribbons that are hidden from view between the work-sheets shall be positively aligned to cover the printing zone after the adjustment of the worksheets and before the typewriting operations, and that the lever 33 maybe used to raise and restore the ribbon carrying frame, without promoting a ribbon feeding movement, due to the brake-tension at both ribbon spools.

Variations may be'resorted to within the scope of the invention, and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a carriage, a ribbon-carrier mounted upon the carriage and movable thereon to shift a pair of superposed inking ribbons to v and away from the printing position, and means automatically operative during the movement of said carrier in one direction to effect a relative separation of the two ribbons.

2. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a revoluble platen, key-actuated types, and a normal main ribbon, of an intermediate ribbon, an inner ribbon, shields for the intermediate and inner ribbons, said main and intermediate ribbons writing directly upon individual work-sheets interposed between their surfaces and the adjacent shields, and the inner ribbon writing on a sheet disposed on the platen upon type impact, means for moving the intermediate and inner ribbons into either an effective or ineffective position, and means for producing a gap between the inner ribbon shield and the intermediate ribbon for the insertion of a work-sheet when said movable ribbons are in ineffective position.

3. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a revoluble platen, key-actuated types, and a normal main ribbon, of an intermediate ribbon, an inner ribbon, shields for the intermediate and inner ribbons, said main and intermediate ribbons writing directly upon individual work-sheets interposed between their surfaces and the adjacent shields, and the inner ribbon writing on a sheet disposed on the platen upon type impact, means for moving the intermediate and inner ribbons into either an effective or ineffective position, spring-pressed means for holding the inner ribbon and shield upon the innermost worksheet on the platen, and means for spacing the intermediate ribbon and shield from the inner ribbon shield to permit insertion of a work-sheet therebetween when said intermediate and inner ribbons are in ineffective position.

4. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a revoluble platen, a normal main ribbon, and a spring-controlled rock-shaft, of an intermediate ribbon, an inner ribbon, paper-fingers rigid on said shaft extending over the inner ribbon, other paper-fingers on said shaft independently spring-actuated and extending under the inner ribbon to press the innermost work-sheet against the platen, a shield for the inner ribbon, a shield for the intermediate ribbon, means for moving the intermediate and inner ribbons into either an effective or ineffective osition, means for forming a gap between t e intermediate ribbon and the inner ribbon shield when said ribbons are in ineffective position, and an arm on one of the last-named paperfingers to guide a work-sheet into and through the gap to printing position.

5. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a revoluble platen, a normal main ribbon, and a spring-controlled rock-shaft, of an intermediate ribbon, an inner ribbon, two pairs of paper-fingers mounted on said shaft, one pair being rigid therewith and the other spring-pressed towards the platen to move independently, and an arm on one of the last-named fingers extending towards the mating finger, both pairs of fingers operating to press an innermost work-sheet against the platen, said arm acting to guide the next adjacent work-sheet into printing position.

6. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a revoluble platen, a platenframe, and a normal main ribbon, of two auxiliary ribbons, one being adjacent the platen and the other spaced outwardly therefrom, a single spool at each end of said frame upon which both ribbons are wound in intimate relation, selective means by which one of said spools may be actuated, frictional brakes for retarding the movement of the spools. guides for distending the auxiliary ribbons lengthwise in front of the platen, means for raising or lowering said auxiliary ribbons with respect to the operative position of said main ribbon, and means automatically operative during the raising movement of the ribbons, to effect relative separation of the two auxiliary ribbons for inserting a work-sheet.

7. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a revoluble platen, a platen-frame, and a normal main ribbon, of two auxiliary ribbons, relatively inner and intermediate, a ribbon support frame at each end of the platen-fra1ne, a ribbon-spool revoluble in each support frame, said ribbon-spools being common to both ribbons which are wound thereon in juxtaposed layers, means in said support frames to guide the auxiliary ribbons lengthwise in front of the platen, selective means for feeding the auxiliary ribbons from one to the other of said spools, brakes to tension the auxiliary ribbons, a shield for the intermediate ribbon carried by said support frames, a shield for the inner ribbon, means for moving said auxiliary ribbons into an operative or inoperative position, and means automatically operative to separate the two auxiliary ribbons at their inoperative positions.

8. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a revoluble platen, a normal main ribbon, and a sprin -controlled rock-shaft, of an intermediate ribbon, an inner ribbon, a collatingtable mounted on the rock-shaft and spring-controlled thereon, a paper shield spring-clipped to said table, said shield being disposed over the inner ribbon to protect and guide an entering work-sheet, a

shield for the intermediate ribbon, said inatermediate ribbon and shield being limitedly separable from the inner ribbon and shield between the confines of the collating table, the intermediate and inner ribbons being in close relation at their ends, means for moving said intermediate and inner ribbons into and out of effective position, and means for causing a gap between the inner and intermediate ribbons when in,an ineffective position facilitating the entrance of worksheets. Y

9. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a revoluble platen, a normal main ribbon, and a spring-controlled rock-shaft, of an intermediate ribbon, an inner ribbon, a collating table mounted on the rock-shaft and spring-controlled thereon, a paper shield spring-clipped to said table, said shield being disposed over the inner ribbon to protect and guide an entering work-sheet, a shield for the intermediate ribbon, said intermediate ribbon and shield being limitedly separable from the inner ribbon and shield between the confines of the collating table, the intermediate and inner ribbons being in close relation at their ends, means for moving said intermediate and inner ribbons into and out of effective position, spring pressed paper fingers actuated by oscillating the shaft to impress or withdraw the inner ribbon with respect to said platen when in 1n- .effective position, and means for producing a gap between the inner and intermediate ribbons. I

10. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen-frame, a platen revoluble therein, a rock-shaft, and a main ribbon, of an inner ribbon, an intermediate ribbon support frames for said inner and intermediate ribbons pivotally mounted on the ends of the platen-frame, a ribbon-spool revoluble in each support frame upon which the inner and intermediate ribbons are wound in successive layers, selective means for winding either spool, means for tensionally retarding the spools, means combined with said support frames for displaying the intermediate and inner ribbons in front of the platen, means for oscillating the support frames upon their pivots, said means also winding the spools after effecting their oscillation, a pair of fingers fixed to said rock-shaft, a second pair of fingers resiliently mounted on said shaft, said fingers pressing the work-sheets against the platen, and paper-shields disposed over the outer surfaces of the inner and intermediate ribbons.

11. In a typewriting machine, the combi nation of a carriage, a ribbon-carrier mounted upon the carriage and movable thereon to shift a pair of superposed inking ribbons to and away from the printing position, and

a pair of paper-fingers automatically operative during the movement of said carrier in one direction to effect a relative separation of the two ribbons.

12. In a typewriting machine having a carriage, a platen and a main inking ribbon for typing upon an outside work-sheet, in combination, a pair of auxiliary ribbons including an intermediate ribbon and an inner ribbon operable to manifold upon an intermediate sheet and an inner sheet respectively, means mounted upon the carriage and operable to shift both auxiliary ribbons in unison to ineffective typing positions away from the platen, and guides operative to uniformly direct the inner auxiliary ribbon close to the face of the platen at both shift positions and thereby effect a wide separation from the intermediate auxiliary ribbon when the latter is shifted away from the platen.

13. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a main ribbon for writing upon an outside sheet, auxiliary ribbons including an intermediate and an inner ribbon for writing upon an intermediate sheet and an inner sheet respectively, a pair of paper-fingers to overlie the margins of the inner sheet and underlie the inner ribbon, a second pair of paper-fingers to overlie the inner ribbon in proximity to the first-named air of paperng'ers, a common support or both pairs tlilll of paper-fingers, and means for swinging said support to move'the paper-fingers collectively to an ineffective position.

14. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a carriage including a platen, typing elements including a main ribbon, a rib bon-carrier mounted upon the carriage, a pair of auxiliary ribbons to cover the longitudinal printing line including an inner ribbon and a ribbon intermediate the inner ribbon and the main ribbon, a shield for the front face of the intermediate ribbon, and a combined ribbon-shield and work-sheet deflector secured to the carrier to cover the front face of the inner ribbon and assist the insertion of the work-sheet between the two auxiliary ribbons.

15. In a'typewriting machine, the combination with a revoluble platen, paper-fin-' gers co-operating therewith, means for easting off the paper-fingers, and-a main ribbon for writing on an outside sheet, of an auxiliary ribbon to lie behind the outside sheet for writing on an intermediate sheet, a second auxiliary ribbon behind the first auxiliary ribbon for writing upon an inside sheet, shields disposed over the outer surfaces of both auxiliary ribbons, means for producing a gap between the innermost shield and the intermediate ribbon, means for moving both auxiliary ribbons and their respective shields collectively to an efl ective or ineffective position, and means for feeding the auxiliary ribbons conjunctively in either direction a predetermined distance.

16. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen, a platen-frame, and a main ribbon for writing upon an outside sheet, of auxiliary ribbons for writing upon inner and intermediate sheets respectively, a rock-shaft mounted in said frame, yielding means normally detaining the shaft in one position, means for rocking the shaft, support brackets rockably mounted on said shaft, yielding means normally detaining the b 'ackets from rocking, a bar connecting between the brackets, a sectional collating table, each section being adjustably secured to said bar and provided with side gages for locating worksheets longitudinally of the platen, a shield for the innermost ribbon removably secured to the under side of said table, a shield for the intermediate ribbon, and means for producing a gap between the table-carried shield and intermediate ribbon to facilitate the entrance of the intermediate work-sheet.

17. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen, a platen-frame, and a main ribbon for Writing upon an outside sheet, of auxiliary ribbons for writing upon inner and intermediate sheets respectively, a rock-shaft mounted in said frame. yielding means normally detaining the shaft in one position, means for rocking the shaft,

support brackets rockably mounted on said shaft, yielding means normally detaining the brackets from rocking, a bar connecting between the brackets, a sectional collating table, each section being adjustably secured to said bar and provided with side gages for locating work-sheets longitudinally of the platen, a shield for the innermost ribbon removably secured to the under side of said table, a shield for the intermediate ribbon, a pair of paper-lingers fixed on the rockshaft to bear against the margins of the intermediate work-sheet, a second pair of paper-lingers rockingly mounted on said shaft and spring-pressed to clamp the inner work-sheet against the platen, and means for facilitating the front entry of the intermediate and outer work-sheets.-

18. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen, a platen-frame, and a main ribbon for writing upon an outside sheet, of auxiliary ribbons for writing upon inner and intermediate sheets respectively, a rock-shaf t mounted in said frame, yielding means normally detaining the shaft in one position, means for rocking the shaft, a collating table rockably mounted on said shaft, said table having raised lateral gages, means for adjusting said gages relatively to the length of the platen and to each other, yieldable means for normally maintaining said table on the shaft toregister with the periphery of the platen, paper-fingers fixed on said shaft to press the innermost ribbon closely against the inner sheet, other paperfingers spring-mounted on the shaft to normally retain the innermost work-sheet upon the platen, the innermost ribbon passing over the last-named fingers, a shield for the intermediate auxiliary ribbon, a shield for the innermost ribbon, and means for detachably engaging the last-named shield to said collating table.

19. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a carriage including a platen, typing elements including a main ribbon, a pair of superposed auxiliary ribbons to cover the longitudinal printing position of the platen, a *arrier for the auxiliary ribbons shiftable between an operative and an inoperative typing position. means operating automati- Cally during the shifting movement of the carrier in one direction to effect a longitudinal separation between the auxiliary ribbons, and a ribbon-feeding means automatically operative during the movement of the carrier in a reverse direction to take up any slack caused by the longitudinal displacement of the auxiliary ribbons.

20. In a t w\\'i-iting machine, the combination with a. platen, a platen-frame, and a main ribbon for writing upon an outside sheet. of auxiliary ribbons for writing upon inner and intermediate sheets respectively, a rock-shaft mounted in said frame, yield- Inn ing means normally detaining the shaft in one position, a col ating table having side gages for locating work-sheets on the platen, means normally holding said table yieldinglyon said shaft, inner Work-sheet clamping means on the shaft, said clamping means also separating the inner auxiliary ribbon, from the inner sheet and means for swinging the shaft together with its attached parts 10 into an inoperative position.

21. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen and a main ribbon for writing upon an outside work sheet, of an auxiliary inner ribbon for writing upon an inside work sheet, an auxiliary intermediate ribbon for writing upon a work-sheet interposed between the inside and outside work-sheets, guides for the auxiliary ribbons to maintain them in proximity to the platen, means for moving the auxiliary ribbons into either an effective or ineffective position, paper fingers including rolls to engage the inside sheet and clamp it when the outside and intermediate sheets are inserted, and means for pressing the paper fingers and rolls towards the platen, said rolls serving to clamp the inner work-sheet to the platen, and the paper-fingers serving to separate the inner auxiliary ribbon from the face of the inner work-sheet.

22. In a typewriting machine,'thecombination with a platen-frame, a platen revoluble therein, and a main ribbon for writing on an outside work-sheet, of a pair of auxiliary ribbons disposed lengthwise in front of the platen, ribbon-spools upon which said auxiliary ribbons are wound in superposed relation, frames for said spools pivoted on the ends of the platen-frame, a handle for oscillating the spool frames, means limiting the movement of the spool frames, said handle having a restricted further movement, means actuated by the restricted movement of the handle to transmit rotary movement to either of said spools selectively, a friction washer clamped to the side of each spool, and means for guiding the auxiliary ribbons from one spool to the other.

23. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen-frame, a platen revoluble therein, and a main ribbon for writing on an outside work-sheet, of a pair of auxiliary ribbons disposed lengthwise in front of the platen for writing on an inside work-sheet and an intermediate work-sheet respectively, ribbon-spools upon which the auxiliary ribbons are wound in superposed relation, pivoted frames for said spools carried by the. platen-frame, a handle for oscillating said frames in unison, said handle also selectively feeding the ribbons from one spool to the other, said pivoted frames having guides directing the ribbons in front of and spaced from the platen, a rock-shaft mounted in the platen-frame ends over the ribbon-spools, and pair of paper-fingers carried by the rock-shaft to press one auxiliary ribbon towards the platen.

24. In a typewriting machine, a ribbon for I writing on an outside work-sheet, an inner auxiliary ribbon for writing on an inside work-sheet, an intermediate auxiliary ribbon for writing on an intermediate Worksheet, said auxiliary ribbons being arranged in superposed relation, means for preventing the typing of impressions on the back of the outside work-sheet, comprising a flexible shield disposed longitudinally over the outer surface of the intermediate auxiliary ribbon, and means for preventing the typing ofimpressions on the back of the intermediate work-sheet, the last-mentioned means inclusive of a work-sheet inserting deflector that extends past the typing zone.

'25. In a typewriting machine, a ribbon for writing on an outside sheet, an inner auxiliary ribbon for writing on an inside worksheet, an intermediate auxiliary ribbon for writing on an intermediate work-sheet, said auxiliary ribbons being arranged in superposed relation, flexible shields disposed over the outer surfaces of each auxiliary ribbon and through which type-impressions are transmitted to the work-sheets on the other sides of the ribbons, said shields preventing impressions on the backs of the work-sheets, means for removably holding said shields in operative positions, and means for moving the auxiliary ribbons into an inoperative position relative to type-impacts and simultaneously conditioning the inner auxiliary ribbon and its shield to form a work-sheetijnserting gap between the two auxiliary rib ons.

26. A typewriting machine for making simultaneous ribbon-impressions upon a ledger, statement and record sheets, comprising a revoluble platen, a main ribbon for making impressions on the statement sheet, an auxiliary ribbon for making impressions on the ledger sheet, a second auxiliary ribbon for making impressions on the record sheet, and means supporting the auxiliary ribbons, operable to move the auxiliary ribbons as a unit from effective writing position adjacent the platen and in the path of the types to a work inserting position above the printing position, said supporting means inclusive of means for automatically separating the auxiliary ribbons during their movement as a unit to work inserting position, thereby to form a longitudinal gap when said auxiliary ribbons are in the latter position tq enable an operator to locate the statement and ledger sheets respectively at the front and rear of the first-named auxiliary ribbon.

27. In a typewriting machine including a platen, a main ribbon, a pair of auxiliary ribbons, means on the carriage and opera- 1 til tions for urging one of said'auxiliary ribbons toward the platen and automatically operative during the movement of said auxiliary ribbons to ineffective position to eti'ect their separation to form a longitudinal work-sheet-inserting gap between the auxiliary ribbons.

28. In a typewriting machine including a platen, a main ribbon, a pair of auxiliary ribbons, a ribbon spool near each end of the platen, means for feeding the auxiliary ribbons from one spool, longitudinally in front of the platen, to the other spool, means for moving said auxiliary ribbons to efi'ective and ineflective positions, and means causing the ribbons to separate to form a longitudinally extending gap therebetween when they are moved to ineffective position.

29. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a carriage, a carrier movably mounted on the carriage, spools for a pair of superimposed inking ribbons mounted on said carrier and movable therewith to shift said ribbons to and away from writing position, and means operative during the movement of the carrier in one direction to effect a relative separation of the two ribbons.

30. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a carriage having a platen and a pair of closely-superposed inking ribbons covering the typing line of the platen, of a shifting mechanism mounted upon the carriage for the superposed ribbons, and eflective to move the ribbons together in unison from the typing line but in divergent paths to widely separate the ribbons facewise.

31. In a typewritin machine, the combination with a carriage diaving a platen and a pair of closely-superposed inking ribbons covering the typing line of the platen, of a ribbon-shifting mechanism pivotally mounted upon the carriage and operatively connected to move the superposed ribbons from the typing line in unison but in divergent paths to widely separate the ribbons.

32. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a carriage having a platen and a pair of closely-superposed inking ribbons covering the typing line of the platen, of a shifting mechanism mounted upon the carriage for the superposed ribbons, and effective to move the ribbons from the typing hne'in unison but in divergent paths to separate the ribbons for the insertion of one work-sheet between them and space the separated ribbons, from the face of the platen for the insertion of another worksheet under the ribbons and around the platen. v

33. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a carriage having a platen, a ribbon-carrier mounted upon the carriage and ope ative to swing a pair of closely-superposed inking ribbons to cover and uncover the typing line, and stationary ribbon-guides formed concentric with the platen and eccentric to the sweep of the ribbon-carrier, whereby the path of one ribbon will be deflected from the path of the other ribbon, when swung by the carrier to uncover the typing line, and thereby efi'ect a wide separation of the superposed ribbons.

34. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a (airriage having a platen, a ribbon-carrier swingably mounted upon the carriage and operative to swing a pair of closely-superposed inking ribbons in unison to cover and uncover the typing line, and means mounted upon the carriage and cooperative with the swinging'movement of one ribbon by said carrier to cause said ribbon to swing through a path eccentric to the path of the other ribbon and concentric with the platen to provide a wide entrance gap between the two superposed ribbons for the insertion of a work-sheet.

35. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a carriage'having a cylindrical platen, a ribbon-carrier mounted upon the carriage eccentrically of the platen and fitted to swing a pair of closely-superposed inking ribbons through an arc to cover and uncover the typing line, and means mounted upon the carriage and co-operative with the swinging ribbon-carrier as it swings in one direction, to guide one ribbon in a circular path concentric with the platen while the other ribbon is being swung by said ribboncarrier in a path eccentric of and away from the platen, and thereby efi'ect-a wider separation of the superposed ribbons for the insertion of a work-sheet.

36. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a carriage having a cylindrical platen, a ribbon-carrier mounted upon the carriage and fitted to swing a pair of close-' ly-superposed inking ribbons through an arc to cover and uncover the typing line, and means mounted upon the carriage and disposed concentric with the platen and co-operative with the swinging of the ribbons by the carrier in one direction, to deflectthe path of one ribbon to a path concentric with the platen, and thereby effect a separation of the superposed ribbons for a work-sheet entrance-gap.

37. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a carriage having a platen, and a ribbon-shifting mechanism mounted upon the carria e to support a pair of closelysuperpose inking ri bons at the typing line of the platen and operable to shift both ribbons in unison to inoperative typing positions through paths that diverge to etfect a separation of the two ribbons for a worksheet entrance-gap. 4

38. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a carriage having a platen, and a ribbon-shifting mechanism mounted upon the carriage to support a pair of closelysuperposed inking ribbons at the typing line of the platen and operable to shift both ribbons in unison to inoperative typing positions through arcuate paths that are eccentric to each other to efiect a parallel separation of the two ribbons for a work-sheet entrance-gap.

39. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a carriage having a platen, and a ribbon-shifting mechanism mounted upon the carriage to support a pair of closelysuperposed inking ribbons at the typing line of the platen, said shifting mechanism being operable in one direction by a continuous sweeping movement to swing both ribbons away from the typing line in parallel planes and dissimilar paths, to effect a wide separation of the ribbons for a work-sheet entrance-gap.

JESSE A. B. SMITH. 

